Pop star Selena Gomez was forced to cancel four shows after Russia denied the 21-year-old singer a visa to enter the country, according to Billboard.

Gomez was expected to perform in Minsk, Belarus and Kiev, Ukraine this weekend and in St. Petersburg and Moscow next week. Russian authorities did not specify why Gomez was refused a visa, but this action comes as some authorities are aggressively enforcing laws banning gay-rights propaganda.

This past summer, Russian officials threatened to prosecute Lady Gaga and Madonna for advocating gay rights during their performances; earlier this month, Cher declined an invitation to perform at the Sochi Olympics in protest of the anti-gay law.

Gay rights activist John Becker launched a Change.org petition imploring Gomez to “stand up for Russia’s LGBT community” while touring — the startlet’s visa was reportedly denied soon after the petition went live. The petition currently has more than 13,000 signatures.